The Japan Cricket Association has announced a 15-member squad for their historic one-off T20 International against reigning world champions India. The match, officially branded as the Suzuki Cup, will be played at the Sano International Cricket Ground in Tochigi Prefecture on September 22.
India and Japan will celebrate 75 years of diplomatic relations following an agreement between Prime Ministers Sanae Takaichi and Narendra Modi. The T20I will also serve as an important preparation match for both teams ahead of the 2026 Asian Games, which are scheduled to begin on September 24.
Kendel Kadowaki-Fleming to Lead Japan Against India
Kendel Kadowaki-Fleming, Japan’s leading run-scorer in T20Is, will captain the side against reigning T20 World Cup champions India. Ibrahim Takahashi and Declan Suzuki-McComb are the only other players in the squad with more than 50 T20I appearances.
The selectors have picked 12 players from Japan’s Asian Games squad announced for the 2026 season in June, along with three players from the A squad — Tsuyoshi Takada, Jake Kusuda-Nairn and Alester Kadowaki-Fleming.
Leg-spinner Makoto Taniyama is another notable name in the squad. He modelled his bowling action after watching videos of Shane Warne and has become Japan’s leading wicket-taker. Taniyama also wears jersey number 23 in honour of the Australian great.
🚨🇯🇵 THE SQUAD IS HERE! 🇯🇵🚨
— 一般社団法人 日本クリケット協会｜ JCA Japan Cricket Association (@CricketJapan) September 7, 2026
日本 🇯🇵 が、スズキカップでインド 🇮🇳 と対戦する歴史的な一戦に臨むメンバーを発表しました。#japancricket #クリケット #india #JPNvIND #SuzukiCup pic.twitter.com/DtbkXKCmt0
Jake Kusuda-Nairn Earns Historic Call-Up
Emerging spin-bowling all-rounder Jake Kusuda-Nairn has earned a place in the Japan squad after impressing the selectors in domestic cricket. His performances during the season helped him secure a call-up for the historic fixture against India.
Veteran Tsuyoshi Takada also returns to the senior setup for the match. He made his international debut for Japan at the ICC East Asia-Pacific Twenty20 Championship in 2013 and brings valuable experience as the hosts will face a full-member nation for the first time.
The selection panel also included Charlie Hara-Hinze, who was part of Japan’s Under-19 World Cup campaign. Japan will play two T20Is against Hong Kong on September 19 and 20. They will start their Asian Games campaign with matches against Afghanistan and Nepal on September 24 and 26, respectively.
Japan Set for Historic Clash Against India
The Suzuki Cup will be played at the Sano International Cricket Ground in Tochigi Prefecture on September 22. The match will give Japan a chance to face the reigning T20 World Cup champions for the first time.
The fixture is also the first step of the ‘Sport 75’ initiative, which stems from an agreement between Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The initiative aims to promote exchanges and cooperation between the two countries through sport.
India have named a full-strength squad for the Asian Games, led by Shreyas Iyer. The one-off T20I against Japan will serve as a warm-up for the cricket competition, which will run from September 24 to October 3.
Japan T20I Squad for Suzuki Cup:
Kendel Kadowaki-Fleming (C), Charlie Hara-Hinze, Benjamin Ito-Davis, Alester Kadowaki-Fleming, Kohei Kubota, Jake Kusuda-Nairn, Wataru Miyauchi (WK), Reo Sakurano-Thomas, Alex Shirai-Patmore (WK), Shoma Sugaya-Slater, Declan Suzuki-McComb, Tsuyoshi Takada, Ibrahim Takahashi, Makoto Taniyama, Lachlan Yamamoto-Lake.
